Whether you are just starting out in ophthalmology or own your own practice, it is never too early (or late) to consider your risk management plan.
(Published on Millennial Eye in January/February 2022)
Many risk factors can come into play for ophthalmologists that go beyond malpractice. This article offers some suggestions and strategies to consider throughout your career.
It is common knowledge that malpractice is a must-have insurance protection that doctors need wherever they work. But disability insurance? It is not nearly as top of mind, especially among young ophthalmologists. However, disability insurance can provide you with continued income if you get injured on or off the job.
Repetitive motions, bad posture, or straining while in surgery or other daily activity can wear on your body over time. One industry source says more than half of all ophthalmologists have experienced some signs or symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders—most commonly back pain, neck pain, or pain in the shoulder, arm, or hand.
A disability insurance policy should explicitly define potential disabilities specific to your occupation (also known as an own occupation disability insurance policy). Think about what disabilities or injuries would prevent you from performing your daily tasks, including surgery, and have these definitions added as specialty-specific policy clauses or additional insurance riders.
It is also important to identify the duration of disability coverage that is best for you, depending on your level of personal emergency savings or working capital available in your business:
Life insurance is another important risk-mitigation tool if you have outstanding debts from your ophthalmology practice or education costs, or if you anticipate other significant personal expenditures. Life insurance can help pay for such financial burdens if you cannot during your lifetime. The choice of a life insurance policy will depend on your coverage needs, age, and other savings. In most cases, we recommend physicians consider term life policies for their life insurance needs. The reasons are primarily due to the policies being more cost-effective and that most physicians don’t likely need life insurance for their entire lives. However, there may be circumstances in which permanent insurance is a better fit.
Unlike your malpractice insurance, an umbrella policy adds a significant layer of net worth protection in the event of an accident involving your personal property (eg, your car or your home). Examples of this including the following:
Umbrella insurance policies are affordable relative to their level of protection (usually $1 million increments), which make them useful asset protection tools when your net worth is growing and you want to protect against a high-severity personal risk.
Another strategy to protect your assets is to separate and title them appropriately. One or more of the following tactics may be useful.
A dedicated wealth manager can help you to determine the best account titling strategy for your situation and state of residence.
It may be dark to say, but certain aspects of matrimony present financial risks to be aware of. Divorce can be the most expensive risk of all. Additionally, in some cases, a prenuptial agreement may be appropriate to consider, particularly for those in a second marriage or with a larger asset portfolio to protect.
Risk management may seem like a daunting endeavor, but it is imperative to protect yourself personally and professionally. Establishing a plan for your assets will enable you to focus on the clinical and surgical aspects of your practice and to safeguard those pursuits for the long term.
Learn more on how we work with doctors and dentists: moderawealth.com/specialties/doctors-dentists
Brennan K. Disability insurance: what you need to know. Review of Ophthalmology. December 11, 2017. Accessed March 1, 2022. www.reviewofophthalmology.com/article/disability-insurance-what-you-need-to-know
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